Material handling apparatus



May 26, 1970 B. G. ALTMANN ET AL 3,513,768

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1968 PMQ aw:

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INVENTORS ATTORNEY May 26, 1970 B. G. ALTMANN ETAL 3,513,768

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 rIIEl i=Joy/v D. 54/45) IN VENTORS :E'II3 5 47701VEY %LJQM y 1970 B. G. ALTMANNET AL 3,513,768

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1968 IWW-HIMH .J \wm & 1\ N\ WW /HV!!II Rlll||l\\ \wlllmfillllum A w 8 Tm II R/wv\\ -a; A N i E A i. Q A\\ 86 mm o 2 on 1 Ni o m mm R g Nam A g g gIlllln JOHN D. BAILEY ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,513,768Patented May 26, 1970 US. Cl. 100-98 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amaterial handling apparatus for effecting compaction of material and thetransfer of compacted material wherein means including a ram is used toeffect removal of the compacted material through a discharge opening inthe apparatus into a combustion furnace or the like.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 'Reference is hereby made tocopending application entitled Waste Combustion System, Ser. No. 734,045and filed concurrently with the instant application on June 3, 1968, andcovering a waste combustion system with which the apparatus of theinstant application can be used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a materialhandling apparatus for effecting the compaction and handling of wastematerial. More particularly, it relates to an improved material handlingapparatus provided with a plurality of spaced Wall elements and a seriesof displaceable partitions disposed in an operable and an improvedmanner within the confines of the wall elements. The displaceablepartitions not only initially receive the material to be compacted butalso cooperate with portions of the spaced wall elements to receivematerial and to effect full coma paction of the material and removalthereof to another apparatus such as a waste material burning receptace.

Various material handling apparatus have been designed in the past foreffecting compaction of the material and transfer of the same to a wastematerial burning device and the like. Examples of such prior artapparatus are illustrated in US. Patent 984,488 to Pearson, granted onFeb. 14, 1911, and US. Patent 3,195,447 to Taylor,

' granted on July 20, 1965. One of the principal deficiencies of theaforesaid prior art material handling apparatus, even though the priorart apparatus were provided with displaceable partitions in handling thematerial, was the fact that the particular displaceable partitions ofthe prior art devices did not have the dual function of initiallyreceiving the material to be compacted with a minimum of spillage andthereafter compacting the material in the apparatus in a simpleexpeditious fashion whereby it could be readily removed by a ram fromthe apparatus and transferred to another device such as a combustionfurnace.

SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION It is the primary purpose of theinstant invention be handled but also for effecting compaction anddisposition of the material for the ready removal of the material fromthe apparatus with a minimum of spillage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, parts of which are broken away and otherparts shown in dotted lines of an advantageous embodiment of thematerial handling apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, withcertain parts shown in dotted lines and other parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view generally taken a ong line 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view generally taken along line 4-4 of FIG.2 certain parts of which are broken away; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view generally takenalong line 55 of FIG. 2 and with parts broken away and illustratescertain details of the apparatus of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With further reference to the drawings, FIG. 1illustrates a preferred embodiment of the material handling apparatus 10of the instant invention. This apparatus is generally comprised of aplurality of spaced side wall elements 12, 12, bottom 14 and an end wall16. The apparatus also includes a series of displaceable partitions 18and 20, an extensible ram assembly 22 and an openable closure element2.4. The upstanding side wall elements 12 and 12 are connected inparallel spaced relation at their bottom edges by the bottom wall 14 andat their upper ends by the wall element 16 of generally L-shapedconfiguration. The bottom wall 14 can be mounted on a suitable supportwhereby the apparatus 10 is normally supported in an upright positionduring the use thereof. 9

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the displaceable partitions18 and 20 are advantageously pivotally or hingedly interconnected to thelower edge of the wall element 16 in such fashion that when thepartitions 18 and 20 are in a forwardly extended or open position (seeFIGS. 1, 2 and 4), the apparatus is adapted to receive in the fashion ofa scoop a relatively loose mass of material (not shown) such as trashmade up of an admixture of solids and/or semi-solids. By hingedlyconnecting partition 20 to wall element 16 in this fashion thepartitions are pivoted in a generous arc and the apparatus is providedwith an optimum material receiving and compacting capacity. Afterreceiving this mass of material the displaceable partitions 18 and 20are moved from an open position to the preselected material compactingposition indicated in solid lines in FIG. 3. When in this positionpartitions 18 and 20 act in conjunction with wall elements 12, 12,bottom 14 and end Wall 16 to form a material holding and compactingchamber 26 with partition 20 serving as the bottom of this chamber. Therame assembly 22 movably mounted at one longitudinal end of the materialholding chamber 26, as will be subsequently described, effects removalof the compacted material from the chamber 26 through an openableclosure element 24 disposed at the opposite longitudinal end thereof.When the apparatus 10 of the instant invention is disposed adjacent acombustion furnace 28 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1-2 the compactedmass in chamber 26 can discharge directly into this furnace.

A series of suitable hollow reinforcing strips, generally indicated at30, can be attached to and extend fully around the outer edges of eachone of the pair of side walls 12. If desired and in order to furtherrigidify the connection of the side walls 12 to the bottom plate 14,reinforcing elements 32 can be provided, as depicted in 'FIGS. 1-3.

'Each of the displaceable partitions 18 and 20 generally comprises aplate of sufficient length to substantially fully bridge the openingbetween walls 1212 without binding and while being in freely slidableengagement with the walls and these plates can be reinforced by ribs 34and 36 respectively. If desired, a reinforcing strip or plate 38 can beconnected to the leading edge of partition 18 and it can act as aretaining lip for holding the trash material deposited on the partition18. It is to be understood that the mass of trash material can bedeposited on the partitions 18 and 20 when they are in an open positionby hand or mechanically.

As indicated in FIGS. l-4, the partitions 18 and 20 are pivotallyinterconnected to the lower edge of the vertical leg section of theL-shaped wall 16 and to each other by means of hollow ears or hinges 40and 42 in the case of partitions 18 and 20 respectively and hinges 44and 46 in the case of partition 20 and wall 16 respectively in the usualfashion of a pin 41 being used in the case of hinges 40 and 42 and pin48 in the case of hinges 44 and 46.

In order to controllably pivot the partition 18 relative to thepartition 20 and partition 20 relative to Wall 16 a pair of laterallyspaced and corresponding extensible fluid actuators 50 are provided.Since the manner in which each actuator 50 is mounted and operates isthe same, a description of one will suflice for both. Suspended from thebottom of partition 20 is a bracket 52 to which a mounting pad 54 isaffixed. Pad 54 is pivotally connected to the cylinder end of the fluidactuator 50, in the manner shown in FIGS. 3-4. An elongated bracket 56is aflixed to the backside of partition 18 and the free end of bracket56 includes an aperture for pivotal connection to the rod end of theactuator 50 in a known manner.

The displaceable partitions 18 and 20 are moved relative to the L-shapedwall element 16 by means of a single fluid actuator 58 spaced above andinterposed between the fluid actuators 50. To this end a bracket 60 ofapproximately T-shaped configuration is affixed to the backside of thevertical leg section of wall element 16 and a bracket 62 is dependinglyaffixed to a surface portion on the backside of the movable partition 20adjacent the pivotally connected rearward edge thereof. The outer end ofthe bracket 62 is pivotally connected to the rod end of the actuator 58and the outer end of the bracket 60 is pivotally connected to thecylinder end of the actuator 58, in a known manner as generallyindicated at 72'. From the above it will be observed that when the fluidactuators 50, 50, and 58 are operated by a suitable control circuit (notshown), partitions 18 and 20 can be alternately pivoted to a lowered andopen position relative to wall element 16 for receiving a relativelyloose mass of material within the confines of the spaced wall elements12, 12 and then to a closed position to form the material holdingchamber 26. When the partitions 18 and 20 are moved to a closed positionthe material disposed therein is automatically compacted. As noted inthe drawings and particularly FIG. 4, the partitions 18 and 20 aresomewhat underslung or held in their stationary material receivingposition at a low level relative to the position or high level of theultimate chamber 26 formed by the partitions when collapsed. This meansthat a relatively large amount of material can be handled and compactedat one time with a minimum amount of spillage due to the manner in whichthe underslung par- 4 titions 18 and 20 cooperate with the side walls12. Arranging the partitions in this underslung or underbite fashionalso means that it is easier to load the same.

Although not heretofore mentioned, apertures 66' and 68 in at least oneof the side walls 12 are provided, as indicated in FIG. 4, forfacilitating removal and the insertion of hinge pins 41 and 48 in theirassociated hinge elements.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the forward edge of theL-shaped wall element 16 is provided with an upstanding shoulder 69 andan upwardly disposed offset portion 70 connected thereto. The shoulder69 and offset portion 70 define a recess at the forward edge of theL-shaped wall element 16 for receiving the lip 38 on partition 18 whenthe partitions 18 and 20 are pivoted to the preselected position wherebyshoulder 69 acts as a stop for the lip 38.

As indicated in FIGS. l3, a flap 72 is pivotally connected to theforward edge of the offset portion 70 for the advantageous purpose ofshearing off and removing any excess material draped over the free edgeof the lip 38, during movement of the partitions 18 and 20 from alowered position to the preselected position. Accordingly, the rearwardedge of the flap 72 includes a series of relatively spaced and hollowears 74 of cylindrical shaped configuration. Similarly, the forward edgeof the offset portion 70 includes relatively spaced and hollow ears 76of cylindrical shaped configuration that are longitudinally offsetrelative to the ears 74. When the ears 74 and 76 are interfittedtogether and the apertures thereof aligned along a common axis, alongitudinal pin (not shown) can be passed through the aligned aperturesfor pivotally connecting the flap 72 to the offset portion 70. As withthe aforedescribed pins 41 and 48 in pivotally interconnecting thepartitions 18 and 20 to the L-shaped wall element 16, an opening (notshown) can be provided in one of the pair of side wall elements 12 and12 for facilitating connection and disconnection of the pin (not shown)from the interfitted cars 74 and 76.

In order to hold the flap 72 in a proper position relative to thearcuate path of movement of lip 38, a latch ing device 78 can be affixedto an upwardly facing surface portion of the flap 72. The latchingdevice 78 can comprise a pair of spreader-type latching bars 80 operatedby a suitable hand-operated crank mechanism 82 connected in a suitablemanner (not shown) to the inner ends of the latching bars 80, and a pairof strap elements 84 for holding the outer ends of the latching bars 80.As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the side wall elements 12 are eachprovided with a pair of spaced slots 86. The pair of slots 86 in eachside wall 12 are disposed relative to each other such that correspondingand opposed slots 86 in the side walls 12 and 12 are longitudinallyaligned. During locking of bars 80 and the two sets of longitudinallyaligned slots 86 and 86 are adapted to alternately and selectivelyreceive the outer ends of the latching bars '80 upon operation of thecrank mechanism 82 and outward spreading of the bars.

During the movement of the partitions 18 and 20 to the preselectedposition and compaction of the material within the chamber 26 a ramassembly 22 is held in a fully retracted position as indicated in fulllines in FIG. 2 This ram assembly can comprise a flat plate 88, atelescoping fluid actuator 100 connected to the plate 88 and a one-piecesteel strap 102 of approximately U-shaped configuration for attachingthe plate 88 and actuator 100 to the'right side wall element 12. Anopening 98 is provided in the right side wall element 12 for receivingthe plate 88 of the ram assembly 22 during retraction of the plate.During retraction in opening 98, plate 88 of the ram assembly acts as awall for chamber 26.

The outer edges of the plate 88 can have a series of reinforcing flangeor gusset plates 90', 92, 94, 96, 94, and 92 connected thereto and theouter free ends of the legs of the U-shaped strap 102 are flanged. Theouter flanged ends of the strap 102 are provided with aseries of alignedapertures 104 and the intermediate portion 106 of the strap 102 extendsbetween and is connected to the inner ends of the outer legs thereofwhile a cylindrical sleeve 108 is concentrically aflixed to thisintermediate portion 106 of the strap 102. The longitudinal bore of thesleeve 108 in being aflixed to the intermediate portion 106 of the strap102 is aligned with a concentric opening (not shown), in theintermediate portion 106 thereof whereby a common aperture is definedthrough the sleeve 108 and the strap 102.

It is to be understood that the fluid actuator 100 is any suitablecommercially available device comprised of several telescopingly relatedrod sections, the innermost rod section being indicated at 118. Thefluid actuator 100 is slidably fitted through the common aperture sleeve108 and strap 102. The rod end of the actuator 100 includes a mountingflange 116 having a series of four cap screw openings 116' therein,three of which are illustrated in FIG. 4.

The forward end of the innermost telescopic section 118 is connected tothe backside of the ram plate 88. A cylindrical sleeve 112 isconcentrically atfixed to the backside of the plate 88 and disposed inalignment with the common aperture through the intermediate portion 106of the strap 102 and sleeve 108. The forward end of the telescopicsection 118 is inserted through the open end of the bore of the affixedsleeve 112 and secured thereto.

If desired, the outwardly facing side of the intermediate portion 106 ofthe strap 102 is reinforced by a series of four triangularly shapedplates 110. The black side of the plate 88 of the ram 22 can alsoinclude a series of four triangularly shaped reinforcing plates 114.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention a guide 120 can beused for the plate 88 f the ram assembly 22. Guide 120 is comprised ofan elongated bar 122 and an elongated rod 124 of cylindrical shapeconnected thereto. The bar 122 is dependingly aflixed to the innersurface of the top leg of wall element 16 and extends between side walls12. The end of the rod 124 adjacent the left side wall as viewed in FIG.1 can be tapered whereby the reduced end portion 125 can extend beyondthe adjoining end of the bar 122 in the aforesaid side wall 12. Theimportance of this arrangement will become more apparent hereinafter.The other end of the bar 124 and rod 126 adjacent the right side wall 12as viewed in FIGS. l-2 and 4 extends through the upper portion of theopening 98 and beyond the outer surface of the right side wall 12 forthe purpose of supporting and guiding the ram plate 88 through theopening 98 and the chamber 26 during the operation thereof.

The intermediate portion of upper flanged plate 90 is provided with aninverted keyhole slot 126 for slidably receiving the rod 124 and bar122. By virtue of the slidable engagement of bar 122 and rod 124 withflange plate 90, plate 90 can support and guide the ram plate 88 andkeep it in alignment with the opening 98 as well as the inner surfacesof chamber 26 formed by wall element 16 and partitions 18 and 20 so thatthe ram plate will be prevented from twisting or binding even when aheavy load of compacted material is being handled.

The other longitudinal end of the chamber 26 includes an opening 134 inthe left side wall 12 as viewed in FIG. 1 closed 01f by a pivotalclosure element 24.

The closure element 24 generally comprises an outwardly extending wallextension 130 of approximately U-shape and a hollow door 132 disposedwithin this extension and pivotally connected thereto. The extension 130is made up of a pair of upstanding side plates 133 and 133 and a bottomplate 131 extending between and connected to the side plates 133 and 133so as to form an upwardly facing U-shaped recess in direct communicationwith the opening 134. The edges of the plates 13-1, 133 and 133 adjacentthe outside surface of the left side wall 12 are connected thereto by abracket 136 of U- shaped configuration only part of which is illustratedin 6 FIG. 2. The bracket 136 is made up of an angle shaped elementwhereby one leg section of the bracket 136 throughout the extent of theU-shaped configuration thereof is afiixed to outer surface portions ofthe left side wall 12 adjacent the opening 134 and whereby the other legsection of the bracket 136 is affixed to the inner edges of the plates131, 133 and 133 adjacent the opening 134.

The hollow door 132 is comprised of an angle shaped outer plate 138,bottom plate 140 and a pair of side plates 142. The upper and outer endsof the side plates 133 and 133 include upwardly and outwardly projectingapertured ears 144 and 144 of matching configuration with similar ears146 on door plate 138. When the openings on the various ears 146 and 144are aligned a pin (not shown) can be inserted therein for pivotallyconnecting the ears 144 of the wall extension 130 to the ears 146 of theplate 138 of the door 132 thereby pivotally connecting the door 132 tothe wall plate extensions 133.

The door 132, by virtue of its pivotal connection to the ears 144 and144, has a tendency to remain in a closed position within the recessbetween the side plates 133 and 133 under the influence of gravity. Itis noted here that with the door 132 in a closed position the free upperedge of the door 132 adjacent the left side wall as viewed in FIGS. 1-2is spaced slightly away therefrom so as to provide ample clearance andprevent binding engagement of the door in a closed position. The overallwidth of the door 132 between its segment plates 142 and 142 is somewhatless than the distance between the opposing surfaces of the side plates133 and 133 of the wall extension 130 thereby assuring that the door 132will freely pivot from a closed position to an open position and viceversa.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention and as indicatedin FIGS. l-2, an inverted T-shaped bar 152 can extend across and isattached to the outer surface of the upper leg section of the angleplate 138.

Both ends of the bar 152 extend beyond the upper edges of the sideplates 133 and 133 and abuttingly engage the upper edges thereof therebylimiting the downward pivotal movement of the door 132 to the closedposition, as depicted in FIGS. 1-2.

In order to raise the door 132 to an open position a fluid actuator 150is disposed between and connected to the right flanged end 154 of thebar 152 and the lower edge of the right side plate 133. As indicated inFIGS. 2 and 5 a bracket 151 of approximately U-shape is connected to alower outer edge portion of the right side plate 133 and the cylinderend of the fluid actuator 150 is pivotally connected to the bracket 151in appropriate fashion. The free rod end 156 of this actuator 150 ispivotally connected to the right flanged end 154 of the bar 152. Whenthe rod end 156 of the actuator 150 is extended by the control circuit(not shown), the door 132 can be pivoted to a raised position andopening 134 of the chamber 26 is exposed. When the rod end 156 of theactuator 150 is retracted, the door 132 is pivoted to a closed position,as evidenced by the dotted and solid lines of FIG. 2 and opening I134 iclosed off.

Assuming that the door 132 is an open position, as shown by the dottedlines in FIGS. l-2, the plate 88 of the ram 22 can be fully extended bythe actuator through the chamber 26 and into the U-shaped recess of thewall extension 130 thereby effecting removal of the compacted materialfrom the chamber 26 and its discharge from the apparatus 10. As ramplate 88 passes through the chamber 26 and opening 134 and enters therecess of the wall extension 130, it is guided and supported in adifferent fashion in wall extension 130 than by the aforedescribed guideand upper flange plate 90 associated therewith.

As ram plate 88 passes into wall extension 130, a pair of track inserts158 affixed to the lower inner surface portions of the wall extension atthe adjacent edges of the adjoining plates 131 and 133 take over thefunction of guide 120. The outer surfaces of the aflixed inserts 158 and158 are of arcuate configuration and correspond to the arcuateconfiguration of the interfitted ears or hinge elements 40 and '42 and44 and 46 of the partitions 18 and 20 and partition 20 and L-shaped wall16 respectively. Thus, the aflixed inserts 158 and 158 within the recessof the wall extension 130 can be said to constitute an extension ofthese interfitted ears.

When the plate 88 of the extended ram 22 enters the recess of the wallextension the inverted keyhole slot 126 on the upper flange plate 90becomes fully disengaged from the guide 120 by becoming disengaged fromthe tapered reduced end 125 of the rod 124 which is disposed adjacent tothe upper end of the opening 134 as indicated in FIG. 1. After suchdisengagement of the upper flange plate 90 from the guide 120, thebottom flange plate 96 nestingly engages the inner surface of the bottomplate 131 of the wall extension 130 thereby supporting and aligning theplate 88 within the recess of the wall extension I130 until the ram 22is retracted again into the chamber 26, normally after full discharge ofthe compacted material fromthe outer end of the wall extension 130.

When the actuator 100 of the ram 22 retracts the plate 88 from therecess of the wall extension 130 preparatory to compacting another massof material within the chamber 26, normally after reopening of thepartitions 18 and 20 to a lower position from the preselected position,the flange plates 90, 92, 94, 96, 94 and 92 of the plate 88, whendisposed within the recess of the wall extension 130, serve not only toprevent binding and twisting engagement of the plate 88 relative to theinner surfaces of the plates 131, 133 and 133 but also to maintain theinverted keyhole slot 126 of the upper flange plate 90 in full alignmentwith the reduced end of the rod 124. In addition, the inserts 158 and158 by virtue of acting as extensions of the interfitted ears 40 and 42and 44 and 46 serve to maintain the flange plates 92, 94, 96, 94, and 92of the ram plate 88 in proper sliding relation relative to the innersurfaces of the plates 133, 131 and I133 of the wall extension 130 aswell as relative to the inserts 158 thereof. Thus when the keyhole slot126 of the upper flange plate 90 re-engages the reduced end 125 of therod 124 of the guide 120, upon retraction of the ram 22, the reduced end125 serves to pilot the keyhole slot 126 into proper sliding engagementwith the guide 120 thereby re-aligning the plate '88 for passage throughthe chamber 26 without binding and twisting engagement therein.

When the partitions 18 and 20 are reopened to their underslung lower orat-rest position from the preselected material compacting position,during retraction of the plate 88 of the ram 22 into the opening 98 inthe right side wall 12 as viewed in FIGS. 1-2, another load of materialcan be deposited thereon. The partitions 18 and 20 are then pivoted tothe preselected material compacting position. With the door I132 in theclosed position as shown in FIGS. 1-2, during compaction of thematerial, the arcuate shaped plate 140 within the recess of the wallextension 130 and in engagement with one end of the compacted materialprevents jamming of the door 132 particularly when the door 132 ispivoted to an open position for effecting removal of the compactedmaterial.

Depending upon the use of the apparatus of the instant invention and therequirements therefore, the apparatus 10 can be operatively connected orassociated with another apparatus such as the waste combustion furnace28 of the aforementioned copending application. Although not shown indetail, this waste combustion furnace 28 would generally comprise anouter cylindrical metal shell 160 and a suitable refractory liner 162attached to the interior surface of the shell 160. The furnace 28 issupported in a suitable fashion (not shown) in relation to the support Sfor the apparatus 10. A common opening 164 through the outer shell 160and the liner 162 on one side of the furnace 28 enables connection to orcommunication with the apparatus 10 of the instant invention. By virtueof the apparatus 10 being connected to the opening 164 of the furnace28, the door 132 additionally includes a refractory liner 166appropriately afl-ixed thereto. Accordingly, the segment plates 142 and142, the arcuate plate and the upper leg section of the plate 138 areprovided with outwardly extending integral flange portions 172 as shownin FIG. 2. The refractory liner 166 is partially inserted within therecess formed by the flange portions 172 and secured to the outwardlyfacing surface of the lower intersecting leg section of the angle plate138 in a conventional fashion. The outer edges 170 and 170 of the sideplates 133 and 133 are of arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuateshape of the outer metal shell of the furnace 28. It is to be understoodthat the outer edge of the bottom plate 131 of the wall extension 130and the arcuate shaped edges of the side plates 133 therecf are allsecured to the outer shell of 160 of the furnace 28 adjacent the opening164 thereof by a bracket, not shown.

Further, as indicated in FIG. 2, when the door is in the open positionthe outer surface of the refractory liner 166 is disposed in alignmentwith the upper edges of the side plates 133 of the extension 130 therebyproviding a top cover for the recess of the extension 130. Such a coverfor the recess of the extension 130 assures that compacted materialdisposed within the chamber 26 is discharged from the chamber 26 andextension 130, upon extension of the ram plate 88, into the furnace 28through the opening 164 thereof.

Although the partitions 18 and 20 can be moved from an open position tothe preselected position and vice versa by other appropriate mechanisminstead of the fluid actuators 50, 50 and 58 such as a rotatable feedscrew device and various other changes made in the parts of the instantinvention, it will be noted that the particular manner in which thepartitions 18 and 20 are disposed and operatively arranged relative towall elements 12 and 16 results in an apparatus which although compactand small can handle and compact relatively large volumes of materialwith a minimum of spillage.

Advantageous embodiments of the instant invention have been disclosedand described. It is obvious that various changes and modifications canbe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof asdefined by the following appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spaced relationto each other, and means including at least one displaceable partitionslidingly disposed within and between the confines of said spaced wallelements for initially receiving material supplied to said apparatus andfor compacting said material, said partition cooperating with at leastsome of said wall elements to form a closed material holding andcompacting chamber when said partition has been moved to a preselectedand material compacting position along with the initially suppliedmaterial, means for displacing said partition within the confines ofsaid spaced wall elements from an at-rest position to said preselectedmaterial compacting position and means including a ram means mounted atone end of said chamber and an openable closure means mounted at theopposite end of the chamber for removing the material from said chamberwhen said artition has been moved to and is held in said preselectedmaterial compacting position.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for pivotallyinterconnecting said partition to one of the said wall elements.

3. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaidpartitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to said apparatus while in an underslung position, means fordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with the wall elements and each other toform a closed material holding and compacting chamber when saidpartitions have been moved to the preselected material compactingposition and means apart from said partitions in-, cluding a ram meansmovably mounted at one end of said chamber and an openable closure meansmounted at another end of said chamber and disposed between saidpartitions and certain of said wall elements for removing the materialfrom said chamber when said partitions have been moved to and are heldin said preselected material compacting position.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said partitions arehingedly connected to each other.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including stop means forengaging one of said partitions when the partitions have been moved tothe preselected material compacting position. 1

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means engageable withone of said partitions for removing excess material draped over one ofsaid partitions during the displacement of said partitions.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including stop means forengaging said partition when the partition has been moved to thepreselected and material compacting position.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said partition isprovided with lip means for retaining material supplied to saidapparatus.

9. An aparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means engageable withsaid partition for removing excess material draped over said partitionduring displacement thereof.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for guidingsaid ram means upon its advancement in adirection towards said closuremeans.

11. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaid partitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to said apparatus while in an underslung position, means fordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with the wall elements and each other toform a material holding and compacting chamber, and means apart fromsaid partitions for removing the material from said chamber when saidpartitions have been moved to and are held in said preselected materialcompacting position, said last mentioned means being comprised of a rammovably mounted at one end of the material holding chamber and anopenable closure means mounted at the opposite end thereof.

12. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaid partitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to said apparatus while in an underslung position, meansfordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with the said wall elements and each otherto form a material holding and compacting chamber, means apart from saidpartitions for removing the material from said chamber when saidpartitions have been movd to and are held in said preselected materialcompacting position, said last mentioned means being comprised of a rammovably mounted at one end of the material holding chamber, an openableclosure means mounted at the opposite end thereof and guide means forsaid ram.

13. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaid partitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to said apparatus while in an underslung position, means fordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with said wall elements and each other toform a material holding and compacting chamber, and means apart fromsaid partitions for removing the material from said chamber when saidpartitions have been moved to and are held in said preselected materialcompacting position, said last mentioned means including a ram and anopenable closure means for the chamber formed in part by saidpartitions.

14. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaid partitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to said apparatus while in an underslung position, means fordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with said wall elements and each other toform a material holding and compacting chamber, means apart from saidpartitions for removing the material from said chamber when saidpartitions :have been moved to and are held in said preselected materialcompacting position, said last mentioned means including a ram and anopenable closure means for the chamber formed in part by saidpartitions, means for opening said closure means and means for advancingsaid ram toward said closure means to eflect discharge of the materialfrom the material holding and compacting chamber upon the opening ofsaid closure means.

15. A material handling and compacting apparatus comprising a pluralityof wall elements, certain ones of which are disposed in spacedrelationship to each other, means including a series of interconnectedand displaceable partitions slidingly disposed within and between theconfines of said spaced wall elements, means pivotally interconnectingsaid partitions in an underslung position to one of said wall elementswhereby said displaceable 1 1 partitions can initially receive materialsupplied to' said apparatus While in an underslung position, means fordisplacing said interconnected partitions within the confines of saidspaced wall elements from said underslung position to a preselectedmaterial compacting position relative to said one of said wall elements,said partitions cooperating with said Wall elements and each other toform a material holding and compacting chamber, means apart from saidpartitions for removing the material from said chamber when saidpartitions have been moved to and are held in said preselected materialcompacting position, said last mentioned means including a ram and anopena'ble closure means for the chamber formed in part by saidpartitions, and means for guiding said ram in its advancement towardssaid closure means.

10 BILLY J. WILHITE,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Weatherly et a1. 100233 XRPrimary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

